Hibs boss still on keeper trail

04 July 2009 02:24

Hughes is looking for someone to challenge Yves Ma-Kalambay after Grzegorz Szamotulski, Andy McNeil and David Grof all left the club in the past few months.
The former Falkirk manager has brought in midfielders Patrick Cregg and Kevin McBride from his old club and signed Danny Galbraith from Manchester United.
And he may add other outfield players once he assesses his squad with a striker likely to be a priority following the £3million sale of Steven Fletcher to Burnley.
Hughes said: "We are still looking for a goalkeeper who can challenge Ma-Kalambay for a first-team place, and I also still like to think that I can perhaps get another one or two players in - but that will all depend on our assessment of the players we have.
"I have to give everyone we have here an opportunity to show me what they can do. I'll be looking to see if they can fit into my style of play - can they pass, get on the ball, are they fit and strong?"
Hughes believes former Arsenal youngster Cregg is the type of player that the Hibs fans will take to.
"In terms of what the fans want to see he is a good passer of the ball and is a player that is full of energy," Hughes told www.hibernianfc.co.uk.
"He wants to press, wants to tackle and just does not give up throughout the 90 minutes.
"I've been trying to get over to him in the past year that he needs to get more goals - but he is brave as a lion and determined to get on to the ball.
"Kevin McBride is another player that I feel has his best years in front of him. He is the type that can switch the play, he knows how the game should be played and I think has a fantastic attitude."
Galbraith had been on Hibernian's radar before they appointed Hughes, but their new manager had also been keeping tabs on him while at Falkirk.
Hughes added: "Danny was a player that I did see a number of times - he is the type of player that excites me, he can play wide left or in a holding role in the centre.
"Again he is a good player for getting on to the ball - he had a hard time with injuries at Manchester United with that result perhaps that he had to move on.
"But he has an opportunity here, he is still a young boy and we will have the opportunity to see if he can mature and claim a place in our first team. He might have to be patient but it will be up to him."
Meanwhile, Hibernian claim to have reached agreement with Youness Bengelloun following a contract dispute.
The former Paris St Germain defender agreed to move to Easter Road when Mixu Paatelainen was in charge, but Hughes did not follow through with the deal.
A statement read: "After lengthy discussions between Youness Bengelloun and Hibernian Football Club, both parties have mutually decided not to enter into a formal contract arrangement."